Checklists and Rubrics EDU 300 Newberry College Jennifer Morrison Picture = http://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/4448147360/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Checklists and Rubrics What is the difference between a checklist and a rubric? Between a holistic rubric and an analytic rubric? When should you use each? What are the characteristics of a good checklist or rubric? By the end of class you should be able to answer these questions.

On traditional test items like multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blanks, it’s easy to know or judge when students get the right answer.

It’s harder to know what the “right” answer is on something like an essay, project, or performance assessment. What should the student have included? What does a good performance look like? What makes one essay, project, or performance better than another?

A number by itself doesn’t mean much on an essay, project, or performance assessment. Sometimes all it means is that the teacher likes you or that you guessed right and did like the teacher would have.

When it comes to more complex, supply-type, or process-oriented assessments, the criteria for a good product or performance must be clear. Criterion = A standard or rule on which a judgment or decision can be based (plural = criteria) For example, what were the criteria for an excellent fish? Picture = http://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/4448147360/sizes/l/in/photostream/

In addition, the criteria need to be discussed and made clear before the student begins work on the assessment.

Checklist A checklist lists the criteria by which the product or performance will be assessed. Usually there are points associated with each criterion. (More important criteria might be worth more points.) Picture = http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtremexhibits/4360829826/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Your class tasks are assessed using checklists Your class tasks are assessed using checklists. As a student, what are the strengths of this format for you? As a teacher, what would the strength be?

Rubric A rubric defines what different levels of performance would look like. Usually there are points associated with each level. Your field experience tasks are assessed with a rubric.

Holistic Rubric A holistic rubric includes multiple criteria for each level. It emphasizes the whole. For example, in a holistic rubric the top level for the fish might be… The fish demonstrates that all directions have been followed exactly, contains all fish-like parts, and is extremely original.

To achieve the top score, a student’s fish would have to have all of these criteria. Have students brainstorm criteria for fish.

Analytic Rubric An analytic rubric describes the levels of each criterion separately. In class, we designed an analytic rubric. Following directions Fish-likeness Creativity 100 93 85 76

Which is better? When is a checklist appropriate? A holistic rubric? An analytic rubric? It depends on… What is being assessed. How much information students need to be successful. What kind of feedback you want the assessment instrument to provide.

What did teachers use to assess your projects in school? Picture (science): http://garyniemi.wordpress.com/2007/08/ Picture (diorama): http://familycrafts.about.com/od/nativeamerican/ss/Native-American-Tepee-Diorama.htm Picture (atom): http://mrwilliams6thgradescience.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

The point is to choose an assessment instrument that gives you (the teacher) the information you need to evaluate learning and/or make decisions, but that also helps you give the student meaningful feedback.

Characteristics of a good rubric or checklist In a rubric, criteria across levels are consistent. Criteria are clear. Criteria should be aligned to targeted standards or objectives. Student is able to use it to guide his/her work and/or process. Therefore, it should be given and discussed before the student starts work. Student is able to use it to self-assess his/her work and/or process. In other words, it provides for student self- assessment and independent learning.

Warm Feedback Cool Feedback Have students review and discuss sample checklists and rubrics. Thumbs Up: http://love-your-neighbour.blogspot.com/2009/04/thumbs-up-for-you.html Thumbs Down: http://emilytheperson.com/2010/12/

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